Car-coupling



m0 Model.)

7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. R. AVERY.

GAR GOUPLINGi Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Silesia J. R. AVERY;

GAR COUPLING.

No. 504,690. Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

W/TIVESSES. INVENTOH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. AVERY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,690, datedSeptember 5, 1893.

Application filed July 12,1892. Serial No. 439,788. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. AVERY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State ofKentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the link and pin type of car-coupling, andconsists in its geometrical development and in providing means forsecure combination, attachment, automatic coupling protection againstthrust and draft, the elimination of undue friction, to overcome inertiawithout resistance, receive and utilize momentum without surprise, andconsequent injury, allow freedom of traction and to uncouple with ease,convenience and dispatch in safety; and the objects of my improvementsare, the execution of every function attributable to the office of acar-coupler in harmony, and with assured safety to life, limb, andproperty while coupling, running, and uncoupling cars. I attain theseobjects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, of thecoupler in combination with the link and pin. Fig. 2, is a section,horizontal, longitudinal view of the coupler. Fig. 3, is a detail viewof the draw-bar provided with the bolt, washer and key. Fig. 4, is adetail view of the cross-beam or spring abutment, Fig. 5, is a detailview of the coupler and drawgear in combination. Fig. 6, is aperspective view of the coupler, coupling pin, and uncoupling device incombination. Fig. 7, is a detail view of the coupler and attachments incombination with the draft timbers.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents my coupler which I provide with a cylindrically round,straight smooth vertical pin hole, for the easy insertion and withdrawalof the coupling pin and its uniform bearing while engaged therein; withthe link cavity A having its walls, entrance and opening thereto formedgeometrically by the blending of elliptical, concave, cylindrical,convex and converging oblique, plane walls, for the reception, guidanceand holding of the coupling link, in position normally for automaticcoupling; with the sub-cavity a in crescent form, horizontally andvertically corresponding in dimensions with the entrance to the linkcavity a, and blending therewith, to receive the inner end of thelinkfor agreater ele vation of its outer end and for holdinglinks inposition that are longer than the standard link required for thiscoupler for automatic coupling; with the hollow extending therefromlongitudinally through the stem or neck of the coupler which may beeither round or square preferably round as illustrated, to afiordgreater strength thereto and with the transverse slot a therethrough ofa length greater than the width of the bolt 0, engaged therein, topermit a limitedlongitudinal movelnentof the coupler A, upon thedraw-bar spring rod or bolt B, limit the action of the butter spring S,

thereon place the link and distribute the unspent force of thrust uponthe draft timbers of the car. The front end or portion of the draw-bar BI have fashioned and proportioned to fit closely the hollow in the neckof the coupler and provided it with transverse slot and bolt 0; and allof that portion of the drawbar not engaged in the neck of the coupler Ihave fashioned perfectly round and provided it with a washer, thevertical slot and key therein near the rear end. The cross beam E,(spring abutment,) consists of a block of wood or other suitablematerial metal or composition preferably Wood, having two holes madethrough it longitudinally and parallel each to the other at a'distanceapart sufficient for the passage of the stem of the draw-bar spring rodor bolt through a transverse hole or bearing made through the center ofsaid block between the bolts G, engaged in the longitudinal parallelholes aforesaid. On each side of the central bearing near each end ahole or slot is provided for the passage of the draft rod H, inconnecting the coupler with the king bolt transom or body bolsterof thecar or two couplers with each other or the draw timbers at one end of acar, with those at the other end.

The bolts forming part of my cross beam or spring abutment, I providewith threaded nuts for attachment and adjustment to the draft timbers.

I provide the draft timbers V, for my coupling in pairs of equal anduniform proportions with a saddle or transverse groove and a shouldereach in the upper edge near the front end. Atransverse horizontal slot,a vertical transverse groove bearing on the inner side with two holesthrough therefrom one vertically above the other on a line with thecenter of the groove bearing, to receive and engage the bolts G, incombination with the block E; two transverse grooves 12, in the upperedge of each draft timber and lower edge of the floor timbercorresponding and similar to receive and engage jointly in combinationlugs that provide additional bearing for the bolt passing therethrough,connecting the draft with the floor timbers of a car.

To combine and operate my invention I place the ends of the cross-beam(spring abutment) E, in the vertical groove bearings of thedraft-timbers, insert the bolts G, and secure them with the nutsprovided therefor. I place in the saddle at the front end of the drafttimbers a right angled carry-iron I, and secure it with bolts and n uts.Having so connected a pair of draft timbers I attach and secure them tothe floor timbers of the car as provided with bolts, bearings and nuts.To the front end of the car against the shoulders of the draft timbers Iattach and secure a plate of iron or steel, dead wood or blocks withbolts, nuts or screws, either or both as may be preferred to provideadditional re sistance to draft. Thus prepared, I place the draft rod H,on each side in the bearings made through or connected with thecrossbeam and king-bolt transom or body bolster of the car, place theneck or stem of the coupler in position on the carry-iron, insert thedraw-bar spring rod or bolt B, into the hollow neck of the coupler andhearing at the center of the spring abutment 0, having the buflor springS, thereon interposed between the end of the coupler and the cross beam0, and the draft spring S, on the rear end against said abutment, securethe draw-bar in the neck of the coupler with the bolt 0, and guard F. Inthe use of the guard F, having a plate provided with two square boltssecured thereto and parallel each to the other and bolt holes near eachend of said plate, provided with round bolts and nuts or screw bolts,the square bolts or short bars provide end walls to the horizontaltransverse slot in the draft timbers and bearings for the lateral rods Hengaged thereby. The round bolts secure the guards thereto. I provideeither draft timbers with the guard, and draft rodH engaged thereon orby inserting the bolt 0, through the other slot into the slot of thedraw-bar until its center is engaged therein, then apply the other guardand secure as the first. The square bolts fit against the end walls ofthe slot closely and are engaged by the draft-rods H, place a washer onthe rear end of the draw-bar spring rod or bolt B, against the rear endof the draft spring S,and insert the key D, in the vertical slotprovided therefor,

secure the draft rods to the transom or body bolster or each to theother and rear edge of the king-bolt transom or body bolster with a barand nuts provided therefor, or connect with continuous rods extendedfrom the coupling or draft timbers at the opposite end of the car. Ithen provide the couplerwith the pin P, made of cylindrically roundwrought iron, steel or other suitable metal proportioned to conform tothe pin hole and bent at a right angle for engagement in the pin hole ofthe coupler, with the uncoupling rod M, and a ball or gravity catch U,in combination, preparatory to coupling. The uncoupling rod M, engagingthe pin P, I secure to the end of the car on a straight line with thecenter of the coupling pin hole and vertical thereto with the separablebearing T, consisting of two sections each equally provided, having avertical bearing for the rod M, a pin projection at the back of eachsection and a bolt-hole provided with a bolt. The vertical rod M, inaddition to the eye at its lower end the horizontal and vertical auglesrespectively therefrom, I have provided with the pin or short rod M,projecting from it for engagement with the lateral angled rod N. Touncouple from the side of the car with this combination, bear down uponthe outward end of the rod N, and from the top of the car, lift the rodM, the pin is withdrawn from the link cavity, the catch U, falls underthe shoulder of the vertical rod M, against the end of the pin P,thereby suspends said pin with the lower end of its vertical portionengagedin the upper wall of the pin hole while its upper horizontalportion is engaged in the eye of the vertical rod M, and with thegravity catch U. in such position that two couplers in similar conditionin combination with a car either of which being provided with thecoupling link L, if brought into contact the outer end of the link willstrike within the opening to the entrance of the link cavity of theapproaching coupler and guided by the converging walls thereto entersthe link cavity, the couplers press against each other, the bolts 0being impinged against the rear wall of the slot in the draft timbersand closely engaged by the slot in the draw-bar prevents its rearwardmovement, the coupler is forced rearward thereon, the spring S, yieldsto the pressure until the bolt 0 is impinged against the front wall ofthe slot a of the coupler A thereby moving the link forward into itscavity and at the same time the pin rearward pushing back the gravitycatch U, releases the vertical rod which falls carrying with it thecoupling pin which passes through and engages the link L., thus couplingautomatically, concurrently the thrustis cushioned,the force distributedand the spring protected. The link L, is also made of cylindricallyround wrought iron, steel or other suitable metal having the samediameter as that of the pin and is to the entrance to its cavity as thepin to the pin hole, its length equal to twice the depth of its cavityand its width equal to the diameter of the pin hole plus twice thediameter of the pin.

Referring to Letters Patent No. 867,128, issued to me July 26, 1887, forimprovements in car-coupling, Figs. 2. and 3. of the drawings made partthereof are similar in appearance to Figs. 1. and 2. of the drawingsmade part hereof. The former, represents a mechanical development of mycoupler, for which Letters Patent were issued to me April 14L, 1 885,No. 315,884, and November 10, 1885, No. 330,284:, while the latterrepresents a geometrical solution or development, of the link and pintype, of car coupler determined with mathematical accuracy as to form,configuration and proportion and capable of increase or decreaseuniformly and proportionately. I am also aware that continuous draftrods have been and are now employed, in the combination of car-coupling,to receive draft direct, as principal and not subsequent to theoperation of the spring or springs as auxiliary, in accordance with thespirit of my invention as herein set forth.

Having thus illustrated and described the construction, combination,attachment, and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In acarcoupler, an angled coupling-pin, having uniform diameter andcoupling-link of like diameter, the inner ends of the link beingsemicircles conformed to the periphery of the pin and proportionedthereto as the pin-hole is to the pin, substantially as set forth.

2. A car-couplerhavin g a vertically straight pin-hole of uniformdiameter and a link-cavity having elliptical-concave,cylindrical-convex, and oblique converging walls, the configurationblending and assuring the proper reception guidance and union of the pinand link, substantially as set forth.

3. A car-coupler having its sub-cavity made to conform to the end of thecoupling-link, proportionately as the pin-hole to the coupling-pin,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a car-coupling, a coupler havinga cylindrical hole of uniformdiameter, longitudinally through the center of its neck or stembisecting the rear orback wall of the sub-cavity therein, a transverseslot through said 1 neck or stem bisecting the walls of said hole of alength sufficient to allow a limited longitudinal movement of a bolt orbar engaged therein with a draw-bar, spring or bolt, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

5. In a car coupling, the spring rod or bolt, of uniform diameter,having two transverse slots, one vertical to the other, the longer ofthe two slots having a bolt or bar for combination with the transverseslot in the neck of the coupler impinged against its rear wall and a keyfor the other slot for combination, with follow plates having a springinterposed,

or with a spring abutment having a spring interposed between it and thecoupler and between said abutment and a washer or other abutmentimpinged against said key.

6. In a car coupling the bolt or barengaged by the draw-bar, the springrod or bolt, in the transverse slot through the neck of the coupler andin the transverse slot in or through the draw timbers of the car,impinged against the rear wall of each slot, in combination to preventthe rearward movement of said draw bar, rod or bolt, permit theoperation of the spring or springs to place the link, release the pin,cushion thrust, cause automatic coupling and receive the unspent forceimparted by thrust, substantially as and for the pur-,

poses specified.

7. In the combination of a car coupling, the cross beam or springabutment, having a hole through its center, to receive and engage thedraw bar, rod or spring bolt, of a car coupler and transverse thereto, ahole above and below and parallel to each other, provided with boltstherein, to strengthen, connect and secure it to the draft timbers ofthe car substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a car coupling, the cross beam spring abutment made of anysuitable material, metal, wood or composition having a hole or bearingthrough its center, engaging the draw bar, spring rod or bolt, a holeabove and below transverse thereto having a rod or bolt each therein tostrengthen the said abutment connect with and secure to the draw timbershaving a bar on the outside of each, secured.

thereto by rods or bolts, provided with nuts to protect and prevent thedraw timbers from spreading.

9. In combination with a car coupler, the draw timbers of a car, havinga transverse slot provided therein or there through, opposite andparallel each to the other, to receive and engage the bolt or barimpinged against the rear wall of said slots the neck of the couplerhaving a transverse slot and the draw bar, spring rod or bolt having aslot near the latter slot to prevent the rearward movement of saiddraw-bar, rod or bolt, assure the operation of the spring or springsthereon, place the coupling link, release the pin, cushion thrust, causeautomatic coupling and afford resistance to unspent force received fromthrust substantially as described.

10. In a car-couplinga coupler having a vertically straightcoupling-pin-hole of uniform diameter a coupling-link cavity, havingelliptical concave, cylindrical'convex, and oblique converging wallstheconfiguration blending and assuring the proper reception, guidance andunion of the pin and link, a sub-cavity conforming to the end of thecoupling link therein proportionately as the pinhole to thecoupling-pin, a cylindrical hole of uniform diameter longitudinallythrough the center of its neck or stem bisecting the rear wall of thesub cavity, a transverse slot through said neck or stem bisecting thewalls of said hole of a length sufficient to allow a limitedlongitudinal movement of a bolt or bar engaged therein with or by adraw-bar, spring-rod or bolt, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

11. In combination with a car coupler and transom or body bolster of acar the draw rod or rods employed to resist draft and strengthen thecoupling.

12. In a car coupling, the lateral rods, connecting the transom or bodybolster of the car, with the transverse slot in the draw timbers orguards engaged therein, to receive draft subsequent to the operation ofthe spring or springs and provide increased strength to the coupling.

13. The guards F. in combination with the draft timbers of acarsubstantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

14. In a car coupling the lateral rods connecting the transom or bodybolster of a car with the guards in the transverse slot of the drawtimbers or with the bolt or bar engaged in the transverse slot in theneck of the coupler and transverse slot in the draw bar spring rod orbolt, to provide increased strength to the coupling and protection tothe spring or springs in combination.

15. In a car coupling the draft timbers of a car, having a transverseslot each opposite and parallel, provided with lateral draft rodsengaged therein or thereby, to prevent the rearward movement of thedraw-bar engaged in the neck of the coupler, permit and assure a limitedmovement of the coupler thereon rearward and a limited forward movementof both, also afford protection to the spring or springs, in response tothrust and draft respectively, the cross beam or spring abutment, havinga hole through its center, to receive and engage the draw-bar, rod orbolt of a car coupler and transverse to, said hole, above and belowholes parallel to each other, provided with a rod or bolt, each having anut or nuts connecting it with and securing it to said draft timbers,affording an abutment for the springs engaged upon the drawbar, springrod or bolt, in combination substantially as and for the purposes hereinset forth.

16. In a car-coupling the combination of a coupler provided with atransverse slot, and having in its necka draw-bar, spring bolt or rodengaged therein with a sliding bolt or bar inserted in said slot, anddraw-rods connected by slotted or looped ends therewith, whereby thepull first actuates the spring or springs of the spring bolt, rod ordraw-bar, and subsequently acts upon the draft-rods, substantially asset forth.

17. In a car coupling, the coupler having a straight oylindrically roundpin hole of uniform diameter, for the easy insertion and withdrawal ofthe coupling pin, alink cavity made to conform therewith,proportionately,

by the blending of elliptical, concave, cylindrical convex and obliqueconverging walls, to receive, direct and hold the coupling link, inposition normally for automatic coupling; a sub cavity, to receive theinner end of the link for a greater elevation of its outer end and madeto conform thereto proportionately as the pin hole to the pin, also forautomatic coupling with links that are longer than the standard; acylindrically round hole of uniform diameter extending therefromlongitudinally through the neck of the coupler, and a transverse slottherethrough, having a spring rod or bolt engaged in said longitudinalhole with the bar or bolt in said transverse slot, impinged against itsrear wall and of a width less than the length of the slot and equal tothe depth of the sub cavity to cushion thrust, place the link, releasethe pin, cause automatic coupling and provide greater strength to thecoupling substantially as described.

18. The guards F. draft timbers V. cross beam E. and draft rods H. incombination substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

19. In combination the draft timbers V., cross beam E., angled carryiron 1., draft rods H., coupler A., draw bar B., spring S., bolt 0.,guards F., spring S'., a washer and keyD., substantially as and for thepurposes herein set forth.

20. In combination with a car, the draft timbers V., provided with aspring abutment E., angled carry-iron I., guards F., draft rods 11.,with bar and nuts, coupler A., with pin P., draw bar B., with boltO.,'springS and S, washer and key D., uncoupling device, with verticalrod M., and gravity catch U., substantially as and for the purposesherein set forth.

21. In a car coupling, the draft timbers V., spring abutment E., angledcarry iron I. draft rods I-I., guards F., coupler A., draw bar B. bolt0., springs S and S., washer, key D., link L., and pin P., rod M.,bearing T., gravity catch U., and rod N. in combination substantially asand for the purposes herein set forth.

22. In combination with the transverse slot, in the draft timbers of acar, a right angled parallelogram, forming end walls thereto, and abearing for a draft rod and a guard to a bolt engaged thereinsubstantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

23. In combination with the car and coupler, the coupling pin P.,vertical rod M., lateral rod N., bearing T., and gravity catch U.,substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

24. The bearing T. substantially as herein described.

JAMES R. AVERY.

Witnesses:

F. H. JOHNSON, HERBERT LOUGHRIDGE.

